Further delay mooted for property valuations

Christchurch City Council is considering putting off the property valuations it uses to set rates for another year, making them seven years out of date.

The three-yearly revaluations were due in 2010 but the Government allowed the council to defer them until 2013, due to difficulties in getting accurate figures on houses damaged by earthquakes.

The council is now considering pushing this date out further because these uncertainties still have not been resolved.

A council report says ratepayers in the eastern suburbs may be paying 10% more than they should because of falls in property prices since 2007, the last time valuations were done.

Cr Peter Beck says that's unfair and the council should carry out the valuations as soon as possible.

However, Cr Helen Broughton, is in favour of deferring the process. She says ratepayers in the northern and western suburbs could end up paying 10% more because property values there have gone up since 2007.